Method and device for homogenizing the energy supply to products to be cooked

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for homogenizing the energy being supplied to products being cooked. The product is cooked in a cooking chamber of the apparatus on at least one receptacle or container, such as a baking tray or grill. The cooking chamber atmosphere is conducted over the container essentially along a plurality of flow paths which extend essentially parallel in relation to one another and the direction of the flow paths is periodically reversed so as to obtain a uniform heating of the products being cooked.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a method for homogenizing the introductionof energy into goods which are to be cooked and which are cooked on atleast one container or receptacle such as a baking sheet, a grate or thelike in a cooking chamber of a cooking apparatus by conducting thecooking chamber atmosphere over the container, particularly over thenarrow or small side thereof, essentially exclusively along a pluralityof flow paths proceeding essentially parallel to one another and byperiodically reversing the blowing direction. The invention is alsodirected to an apparatus for homogenizing the introduction of energyinto goods which are to be cooked and which are cooked on at least onecontainer such as a baking sheet, grate or the like in the cookingchamber of a cooking apparatus which employs the inventive method.

Traditionally, goods are cooked while on a baking sheet, a grate or thelike in a cooking apparatus and it is particularly important that thedesign of the cooking apparatus provides a good thermal conduction inorder to obtain an optimally uniform introduction of energy and, thus,an optimally uniform cooking of the goods to be cooked. However, eventhe most optimum thermal conduction of the baking sheet, grate or thelike cannot in and of itself lead to a uniform cooking. A uniformintroduction of energy in fact occurs when the cooking is also supportedby circulating hot air and/or circulating steam, whereby thecorresponding circulation is forced via a blower. The forced circulationaccording to the Prior Art leads more or less to a flow with ahorizontal parabolic course over the baking sheets, grates or the likeas well as, additionally, to a considerable vertical flow part.

DE 27 09 068 A1 discloses a method and an apparatus in which a blowerarrangement composed of two cross-flow blowers is utilized. Twocross-flow blowers, however, require a complicated structure and canstill not assure a satisfactory homogenization of the energyintroduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to develop a method as well as anapparatus for homogenization of the introduction of energy into thegoods which are to be cooked so that the disadvantages of the Prior Artare overcome.

The object relating to the method is inventively achieved in that thecirculation of the cooking chamber atmosphere is forced by a Roots pumpor blower that is preferably driven by a motor.

It is thereby preferred that the flows along the flow paths proceed overthe container with essentially identical pressure gradients.

It is also inventively proposed that the flow velocity is set,particularly regulated, specifically for the goods to be cooked butindependently of the batch.

It can also be inventively provided that the flows along the flow pathsare kept at essentially the same temperature at the entry ports into theregion of the container.

It is thereby inventively preferred that a plurality of containers arearranged above one another in the cooking chamber and essentially thesame flow paths of the cooking chamber atmosphere are forced relative toeach container.

That part of the object relating to the apparatus is achieved by atleast one Roots pump or blower for guiding the cooking chamberatmosphere in one of two opposite blowing directions in alternation anda plurality of guide devices such as baffles, throttles or the like forhomogenizing the pressure of the flows over the container as well as forguiding the flows along a plurality of flow paths proceeding essentiallyparallel to one another over the container, particularly over the narrowside of the container.

It can be provided that the Roots blower is controllable, preferablywith infinite variation.

It is also inventively proposed that the guide means are arranged,preferably uniformly, along two long sides of the container that lieopposite one another.

It can also be provided that the guide means can be controlled,preferably with infinite variation.

The guide means can comprise nozzles.

It is also provided that a heater means for regulating the temperatureof the flows at the discharge end of the guide means is adjustable,preferably with infinite variation.

One inventive embodiment is characterized in that a plurality ofcontainers can be introduced into the cooking chamber, particularly viaa rack frame or a rack frame carriage, that the same plurality of guidemeans is allocated to each container, and that the blower or,respectively, blowers works or, respectively, work in the same relativearrangement with respect to each of the containers.

The invention is thus based on the surprising perception that thecooking chamber atmosphere can be set and is preferably capable ofinfinite variation, which is specifically related to the goods to becooked and independently of the batch. This is achieved by essentiallyavoiding a flow proceeding vertically to the propagation direction ofthe container or, respectively, containers for the goods to be cooked,and reducing the essentially horizontal traditional flow paths over thecontainer or, respectively, containers for the goods to be cooked inthis direction and namely by alternately forcing parallel flows inopposite directions by employment of a Roots blower or pump and guidemeans.

It is also inventively preferred that temperature, turbulence, directionand velocity of the flows over the container or, respectively,containers for the goods to be cooked is homogenized along the forcedflow paths, at least immediately after passing the guide means.

Further features and advantages of the invention derive from thefollowing description wherein an exemplary embodiment of the inventionis explained in detail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The FIGURE is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view through acooking chamber with an inventive device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As can be derived from the FIGURE, an inventive apparatus for cookinggoods to be cooked on a baking sheet 1 in a cooking chamber comprises aRoots blower or pump with two rotors 2, 2′ as well as a plurality ofbaffles 3, 3′. The baking sheet 1 can be horizontally arranged via arack frame carriage (not shown) in the cooking chamber 4 and can beuniformly in communication with the baffles 3, 3′ which are positionedat two long sides of the sheet or container 1. The baffles 3, 3′ see toit that the cooking chamber atmosphere of hot air and/or steam, which iscirculated via the rotors 2, 2′, proceeds in parallel flows horizontallyover the baking sheet 1 along the flow paths 5 perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the baking sheet 1 from respectively one baffle 3to the corresponding baffle 3′ lying opposite thereto. Moreover, the tworotors 2, 2′ also enable the blowing direction to be turned by 180° in adefined rhythm, as indicated with the arrows A and B. A homogenizationof the flow thus occurs by minimizing the length of the flow paths 5 aswell as changing between the two opposite blowing directions A, B, whichleads to a uniform introduction of energy and, thus, cooking of goods tobe cooked on the baking sheet 1.

Of course, a plurality of baking sheets 1 can be arranged under oneanother extending respectively horizontally in the rack frame carriage,being respectively in communication with baffles and chargeable withflow in two blowing directions by the rotors 2, 2′.

Both individually as well as in arbitrary combination, the features ofthe invention disclosed in the above specification, in the drawings asawell as in the claims can be critical for realizing the variousembodiments of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A method for homogenizing an introduction of energy ontogoods which are being cooked on at least one container selected from abaking sheet and a grate, said method comprising the steps of placingthe container in a cooking chamber of a cooking apparatus, creating aforced circulation of a cooking chamber atmosphere by a Roots blower,directing the force circulation of the cooking chamber atmosphere in aplurality of flow paths proceeding essentially parallel to one anotherover the container, and periodically reversing the direction of the flowpaths.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creatingthe forced circulation creates flow along the flow paths over thecontainer with essentially identical pressure gradients.
 3. A methodaccording to claim 1, which includes regulating a flow velocity of theplurality of flow paths, specifically for the goods being cooked andindependent of the batch.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein theflows along the flow paths are kept essentially at the same temperatureat the entry ports into the region of the container.
 5. A methodaccording to claim 1, which includes providing a plurality of containersbeing arranged one above the other in the cooking chamber and directingthe flow paths of the cooking chamber atmosphere relative to each of thecontainers.
 6. An apparatus for homogenizing an introduction of energyonto goods which are being cooked while on at least one containerselected from a baking sheet and a grate, said apparatus including acooking chamber having a cooking chamber atmosphere, a Roots blower forcreating a pressure flow of the cooking chamber atmosphere in twoalternate opposite blowing directions, a plurality of guide devices forguiding the pressure flow over the container along a plurality ofparallel flow paths.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein anoutput of the Roots blower is infinitely variable.
 8. An apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein the guide devices are arranged preferablyuniformly along two long sides of the container lying opposite oneanother.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the guide devicesare controlled with infinite variation.
 10. An apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein the guide devices comprise nozzles.
 11. An apparatusaccording to claim 6, which includes heating means for regulating thetemperature of the flow at the discharge end of the guide devices, saidheating means being adjustable with infinite variation.
 12. An apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein a plurality of containers can beintroduced into the cooking chamber via a rack frame, and the same guidedevices are allocated to each container and the Roots pump working withthe same relative arrangement with respect to each of the containers.13. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the guide devices arebaffles.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the guidedevices are throttles.